Garment stretcher



May 19, 1959 s. ITKONEN 7 GARMENT STRETCHER Filed Feb. 17, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR .5 Yl VIA UZO/VEA/ ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,887,257 GARMENT STRETCI-HZR Sylvia Itkonen, New York, N.Y. Application February 17, 1955, Serial No. 488,743 Claims. (Cl. 22369) This invention relates to garment stretchers such as commonly used for supporting garments to be dried. The object of the invention is to provide an adjustable stretcher of the class described, formed of metal or plastic which may be readily folded into a compact form requiring much less space than the device would otherwise require.

Another object is to provide an adjustable device of the character described having two main parts which are identical so that only one die is necessary for both sides.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which may be made of metal or plastic having the form of the garment to be stretched thereon which is simple and cheap to manufacture and which may be folded so as to be easily packed in a suitcase or the like.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which disclose preferred embodiments of the device. It will be understood however that this is merely for the sake of illustration and is not limitative of the invention which is as defined by the appendant claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is an adjustable garment stretcher particularly adapted for sweaters and embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a stretcher for childrens sweaters.

Figure 3 is a stretcher for garments having legs such as childrens sleeping garments.

Figure 4 is a top view of the stretcher Figure 1 showing the two side frames separated to show the integral engaging means thereon.

Figure 5 is a top view of the frames Figure 4 when placed together and Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6, 6 of Figure 1, showing the retaining clip in place.

Figure 7 is a view of the stretcher Figure 1 folded, the dotted line showing the space saved by this procedure.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the hinges and locking means and locking portions of the frame together.

Referring to Figure 1, the numerals 10, 11 denote the side frames of the spreader. These may be made of metal or plastic and are identical, thus permitting both of them to be made on the same tools or dies. The frames may be oval or rectangular in cross section, for example, x pi in. The frames have the upper extensions 12, 13 and the lower extensions 14, 15 which are provided with engaging means such as the teeth 16 or the like, so shaped and spaced that when the frames are joined as shown in Figure 1, the teeth on one frame engage the corresponding grooves 17 on the other frames, thereby preventing relative lateral movement of the frames.

By matching the teeth and grooves in a manner that is obvious, the side frames may be spaced at various distances apart to accommodate garments of various neck and bottom sizes.

The frames are secured together in any suitable manner by means such as the spring clip 18 having a hole 19 therein as shown in Figure 3 or a hook 19a as shown in Figure 1 by which the entire stretcher may be suspended. This clip has a spring 20 which presses jaws 21 against the extensions 12, 13, 14, 15 to hold them together,

the lower ends 22 of the jaws extend below the frames and prevent vertical movement thereof. Thus the frames 10, 11 are held in any adjusted position.

In order to fold the stretcher Figure 1 into a small compact package, easily placed in a small travelling bag, the arm portions 23, 23a, of the frames are hinged, as shown at 24, 25 so as to fold inwardly, the complete folded stretcher then having the compacted outline shown in Figure 7 and one frame being on top of the other. Any suitable locking means such as the catches 34 Figure 8, on the opposite side of the frame from the hinges may be used to keep the arm portions in extended positions.

In Figure 2 a stretcher for small garments such as a childs sweater is shown at 26. This may have the same adjustable arrangement at the top and bottom of the side frames as described in connection with Figure 1 and may be hinged as at 26a, 27a, and 28a so that it can be folded into a relatively small space.

Figure 3 illustrates a relatively long frame 29 such suitable for a childs sleeping garment. The neck and crotch portions of this frame may be made adjustable as described in connection with Figure 1 and hinges 30, 31, 32 and 33 may be provided so that this stretcher can be folded in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figure l.

The stretchers here illustrated are merely illustrative of the invention and may be applied to stretchers of any size and shape, the inventive concept residing in the adjustable side frames and, if desired, the hinged sectional construction whereby the stretchers may be folded.

What is claimed is:

1. A frame adapted to support a garment, said frame comprising a pair of substantially vertical side members having generally horizontal upper and lower extensions, said extensions including means for engaging each other; arm portions hingedly secured to said frame and including hinges having axes extending substantially parallel to a main axis of said frame; and means for locking said arm portions in extended positions, whereby said side members are held in desired relatively adjusted positions.

2. A frame adapted to support a garment including a pair of substantially vertical side members having generally horizontal upper and lower extensions adapted to be placed together; locking means freely slidable along said extensions and adapted to hold same in various relatively spaced-apart positions, said means including springy members engaging slots in said extensions and extending across same, arm portions hingedly secured to the frame; and means for locking said arm portions in extended positions.

3. A frame adapted to support a garment comprising a pair of identical side members, each of said members having a vertical portion and upper and lower horizontal portions extending from said vertical portions, said extensions having matching grooves and teeth therein adapted to be brought into engagement, whereby the space between said vertical portions of said members may be adjusted in a lateral sense; means carried by said vertical portions for securing same together in various selected positions, arm portions hingedly secured to said frame; and means for locking said arm portions in extended positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 945,231 Gustafson Jan. 4, 1910 2,157,822 French May 9, 1939 2,213,975 Burwell Sept. 10, 1940 2,539,895 Cuneo et a1. Ian. 30, 1951 

